Spurs 96 - 106 Timberwolves
Final
  for this game

Spurs shoot for 17th straight win over improved Wolves

Jan 2, 2012 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - San Antonio will aim to continue its dominance over the Timberwolves Monday when the Spurs shoot for their 17th consecutive win over Minnesota.

The Spurs rebounded from their first loss of the season on Saturday when Manu Ginobili hit five three-pointers and scored 23 points, leading San Antonio to a 104-89 victory over the Utah Jazz at AT&T Center.

"I didn't force the shots. I was just open and I made them. It was a good night," said Ginobili.

DeJuan Blair contributed a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Tony Parker netted 14 points and dished out eight assists for the Spurs, who improved to 3-1 on the young season. Tim Duncan finished with 12 points and nine rebounds for San Antonio.

San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich notched his 800th career win, all with the Spurs. In his 16th season as head coach of the team he is second to Utah's Jerry Sloan, who recorded 1,096 wins over his 22-year tenure as the Jazz's coach, for most coaching wins with one franchise.

"When you get that number of wins it does mean you've been hanging around for awhile and you've got a good staff, good players and a good management team," Popovich said. "So, we've all achieved 800 wins. I haven't really."

The Wolves have been much more competitive this season and finally broke through with their first win of the season over reigning NBA champion Dallas on New Year's Day.

Kevin Love recorded a double-double with 25 points and 17 rebounds in that one as Minnesota scored the game's final 15 points to take down the Mavericks, 99-82, at Target Center.

Ricky Rubio scored 14 points and dished out seven assists and Anthony Tolliver added 13 points and six rebounds for the Timberwolves, who snapped an 18-game skid dating back to last season and registered their first win of 2011-12 after being outscored by a total of nine points in three losses.

Minnesota also snapped a five-game skid to the Mavs and best Dallas for just the second time in 20 attempts. The Wolves, meanwhile, haven't beaten the Spurs since a 103-101 overtime win on Jan. 3, 2007.

On the injury front, Minnesota could be without forward Michael Beasley, who has been struggling with a lacerated left index finger.






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